Study of Vaginal Group-B Streptococcal Colonization in Pregnant Women Attending a Tertiary Care Centre of Agartala

Abstract

BACKGROUND Lancefield Group-B Streptococcus (GBS) emerged as a significant neonatal pathogen with mortality rates of 15 - 50 % in western countries during 1970s. In India, incidence of invasive neonatal GBS diseases is around 0.17 per 1000 live birth and probably is underestimated. Hence, the study was undertaken to evaluate the vaginal GBS colonization in pregnant women along with the neonatal outcome. METHODS The study was single centered, hospital based observational cross-sectional study done in the dept. of Obstetrics & Gynaecology at Agartala Government Medical College (AGMC), and GBP Hospital for one & half years (Jan’ 16 - June’ 17). 250 Pregnant mothers with 31 to 40 weeks of gestation with singleton pregnancy, delivering either by Caesarean section & Vaginal delivery, were included in this study. They were recruited from obstetrics OPD and casualty of AGMC & GBP Hospital. During 1 st pelvic examination, two low vaginal swabs were taken for Gram Staining, and for determination of ß-hemolytic colony in blood agar. After identification of GBS from genitalia, outcome of neonates in these positive cases were evaluated for up to 28 days after delivery. RESULTS GBS was found in 8.8 % of total women recruited and was more common in multi-gravida. GBS vaginal colonization was significantly associated with low birth weight, and preterm delivery (p value 0.01) which is significant. CONCLUSIONS Prevalence of vaginal GBS colonization is more in pregnant mothers, more in multigravidas & is associated with low-birth-weight neonates and preterm delivery. So, there is a need to formulate guidelines for incorporation of detection of vaginal colonization in multi gravidas to determine its prevalence. KEYWORDS Group-B Streptococcus (GBS), Multigravidas, Colonization, Neonates, Pregnant Women